It is illegal for any two firms that sell similar products to engage in price-fixing agreements.  Violating the anti-trust laws can bring both civil and criminal prosecutions.  Nevertheless, price-fixing does take place.   Examples would be found at the service plazas along the NY State Thruway and the NJ Turnpike.  Each location has a small number of fast-food restaurants.  Each fast food restaurant belongs to a different firm, which should create competition, yet at service plazas, all have uncommonly high prices.  Draw a prisoner’s dilemma type of game (2x2) to show the pricing choices and strategies of two competing fast-food restaurants, located at one service plaza.  Payoffs are daily profits.  Create sensible numbers.  Write a brief explanation for the different numbers that you have created.  Identify John Nash’s equilibrium, as well as the optimal outcome for the two fast-food outlets.  Also, find and label any strictly dominant strategies.  Actual long-run pricing results at the service plaza may be contrary to the results predicted by the 2x2 diagram from part A.  Explain why actual results may differ in the long run.  Why is the competition between different firms unable to bring lower prices to the consumer at the service plaza?

Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies and Tactics (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN:9781305506381
Author:James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Publisher:James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Chapter13: best-practice Tactics: Game Theory
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1E
icon
Related questions
Question

    It is illegal for any two firms that sell similar products to engage in price-fixing agreements.  Violating the anti-trust laws can bring both civil and criminal prosecutions.  Nevertheless, price-fixing does take place.   Examples would be found at the service plazas along the NY State Thruway and the NJ Turnpike.  Each location has a small number of fast-food restaurants.  Each fast food restaurant belongs to a different firm, which should create competition, yet at service plazas, all have uncommonly high prices. 

  1. Draw a prisoner’s dilemma type of game (2x2) to show the pricing choices and strategies of two competing fast-food restaurants, located at one service plaza.  Payoffs are daily profits.  Create sensible numbers.  Write a brief explanation for the different numbers that you have created. 
  2. Identify John Nash’s equilibrium, as well as the optimal outcome for the two fast-food outlets.  Also, find and label any strictly dominant strategies. 
  3. Actual long-run pricing results at the service plaza may be contrary to the results predicted by the 2x2 diagram from part A.  Explain why actual results may differ in the long run.  Why is the competition between different firms unable to bring lower prices to the consumer at the service plaza? 

answer all of them, please.

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 1 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Fundraising
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies an…
Managerial Economics: Applications, Strategies an…
Economics
ISBN:
9781305506381
Author:
James R. McGuigan, R. Charles Moyer, Frederick H.deB. Harris
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Survey Of Economics
Survey Of Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337111522
Author:
Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:
Cengage,
Economics For Today
Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:
9781337613040
Author:
Tucker
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Micro Economics For Today
Micro Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:
9781337613064
Author:
Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:
Cengage,